Coupon-ticket-printing machine.



M. J. HOFFMAN. COUPON TICKET PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. I917.

Pate'nted Jan. 1, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 M. J. HOFFMAN. COUPON TICKET PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2.1917.

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MORRIS J'. HOFFMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COUPON-TICKET-PRINTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

Application filed July 2, 1917. Serial No. 178,107.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORRIS J. HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Coupon Ticket- PrintingMachines, of which the following is declared to be a full, clear, andexact description,

This invention relates to printing machines, and its principal object isto provide a comparatively simple, substantial and efficient machine forprinting numbers or other data upon the coupon tickets or other sheets.It is well known to those skilled in the art to which this inventionpertains,that in many establishments a coupon ticket accompanies thearticle to be constructed, which ticket is made up of a number ofdetachable coupons, one for each workman 'who performs any work upon thearticle. The tickets are numbered consecutively, and the coupons of thetickets are numbered to correspond with the number of the ticket itself,and the amounts to be paid to the workmen are printed upon the severalcoupons. Frequently the coupons are arranged along each side edge of theticket, there being two rows of coupons, and the present machine hasbeen especially designed to print along two rows of coupons, althoughfor many other purposes it may be constructed to print along a singlerow, or along more than two rows, if so desired. It may be used forprinting and sheets, and I desire it that the use of this device is notlimited to printing coupon tickets but it may be used,

whereverthe use of a machine of this class The invention consists in theseveral novel features .of construction, arrangement and combination ofparts hereinafter fully set forth and particularly defined in theclaims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1, is a longitudinal section takenthrough a coupon ticket printing machine embodying a simple form of theinvention; Fig. 2, is a vertical cross section taken on the line 2-2 ofFi 1, and partly broken away; Fig. 3, is a ragmental plan of the topplate of the machine; Fig. 4, is a detail side elevation of a hand wheelused in setting thetype bars; Fig. 5, is a plan of the machine partlybroken away, and having its platen removed; Fig. 6, is a fragmental planof a number of the type bars, setting pinions, and their upon othercards 7 to be understood shafts; Fig. 7, is a plan of a slightlymodified form of type-bar; and Fig. 8, is a vertical cross section takenOn the line 88 of Fig. 7.

Referring to said drawings, the reference numeral 10, designates theframe of the machine, which frame may be of rectangular form, as clearlyillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Supported within said frame 10, are twolengthwise extending supporting bars 11, which lie in one and the samehorizontal plane and are spaced apart, as seen in Fig. 1, Below saidsupporting bars 11, is a supporting plate 12, which is carried by theframe 10, and resting upon said plate 12, are vertically extendingspacing strips 13, between which are type bars 14. Said spacing strips13, act to separate the type bars 14, from each other, to therebyprevent any one type bar from moving an adjacent one whenever it ismoved. Upon the upper faces of the type bars 14, are type characters 15,which may be the letters of the alphabet or numerals, and in thepreferred form of the invention, numerals are employed, said numeralsbeing arranged numerically from 0 to 9. (See Fig. 5.) Where it isdesired to print upon two rows of coupons, each type bar has two sets oftype characters running numerically from 0 to 9, one set following theother along the length of the type bar.

Each type bar has a comparatively thin web portion 16, extending fromits bottom edge to a point near its upper edge, and the lower edge ofits thicker portion 17, is formed with teeth to provide a rack 18, thatmeshes with a pinion 19, fast upon a shaft 20, journaled in the endWalls 21, of the frame 10, and extending through the spacing strips 13.It is to be understood that associated with each bar is a pinion 19,which meshes with its rack, and the shafts of said pinions are spacedfar enough apart to permit the pinions of any one shaft to stand betweenany two adjacent shafts. Upon the outer ends of said shafts, at one endof the machine, are setting wheels 22, which may be turned by hand torotate the pinions 19, and therewith move the type bars lengthwise ofthemselves to bring the desired type characters thereof into printingposition. Conveniently the setting wheels may be provided with notchesin their peripheries for engagement with pawls or spring detents 23,said notches being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distancebetween the typecharacters. Said setting wheels may also have characterson their faces, corresponding with the characters on the type bars sothat the user may be guided thereby in setting the type bars.

The type bars are arranged in groups, each group being spaced apart fromthe other by the end spacing strips of the group, or by washers or otherspacing devices, 24. When the machine is used for printing num bers onthe coupons, five bars may be conveniently used in each group, five barsbeing capable of printing any number from 0 to 99999, but this number ofbars may of course be varied to suit the requirements of the particularestablishment. Each shaft 20, carries as many pinions 19, as there aregroups of type bars, there being one pinion for one type bar of eachgroup, and each pinion meshing with the racks of the type barscorresponding in location in each group. For instance, the shaft 20, atthe left-hand side of Fig. 6, carries pinions 19, that mesh with thefirstracks (nearest the bottom of the figure) .of each group. The

pinions of the second shaft 20, mesh with p the racks of the secondracks of each group,

and so on, so that by turning one shaft 20,

one type bar of each group is moved lengthwise of the machine to bring acorresponding character on each type bar into prmting position. In theposition shown in full lines in the drawings, all of the type bars areset with the character 0 in printing position, and when it is desired toprint the numeral 1 with each group of type bars, the setting wheel forthe units column is turned until the first notch of the setting wheelcomes underneath the detent 23'. The rack bars of the units column arethereby moved one step, bringing the characters 1 on each units columntype bar into printing position.

Supported on the frame of the machine immediately above the type, is athin plate 24, which is formed with lengthwise extending slots 26, thatdetermine the printing. po-

. sition of the type and which expose the type at said printingposition. Above said slots 26, are inked ribbons 27, by means of whichthe impressions are made upon the sheet to be printed upon. A stop 28,is adjustably secured at the rear end of the machine, and forms a gageagainst which the ticket A, is placed whenit is to be printed upon.

Movably supported upon the frame 10, of the machine is a platen 29,which is here shown as hinged to the frame at 30, and provided upon itslower side with resilient strips 31, which may comprise rubber stri ssecured upon the lower side of the 'platen- 1n position to pass throughthe 'slots 26, whenever the platen is depressed, and thereby. forcethose parts of the ticket lying above 7 the slots down through theslots, carrying with those parts the ribbons, whereby impressions aremade on the ticket by the type journaled in brackets 37, extending upfrom the top of the machine and the handle 32, is fastened upon theouter end of the shaft of one of the arms 33. By pulling forward uponthe handle 32, the arms 33, are thereby swung downward, and the platenmoved down.

In the operation of the machine, the ticket is laid upon the top plate25, the hand wheels manipulated to bring the proper type characters intoprinting position, and the platen pressed down, thereby forcing thoseparts of the ticket overlying the slots 26, down through said slotscarrying the ribbons with them into contact with the exposed typecharacters, thereby causing said type characters to make the impressionson the ticket through the ribbons. The platen is then raised, and theprinted ticket removed. Inasmuch as the coupon tickets are numberedconsecutively, the proper setting wheel is turned one notch before thenext ticket is printed, thereby bringing the next higher number intoprinting position. The type bar having the type characters thereon, forrinting the units column is designated by t e reference character a, theone for printing the tens column, is designated by the character I), andthe one for printing the hundreds column by c, thousands column by (Z,and so on. Obviously, after the type bar which prints the units columnhas been moved to print the figure 9, it is moved back to the positionwhere 1 is in printing position, and thereafter the type bars whichprint the tens column. are moved to print 0 and so on, in a step-by-stepmanner, as here tofore explained.

From the above, it is readily apparent that with the use of type bars,each having two sets of type characters formed thereon, two rows of datacan be printed upon the coupon ticket or other sheet, and by turning anysetting shaft, all of the type bars controlled by said shaft aresimultaneously movedto brilfg the desired type characters into printingposition in two rows. In this way, a large number of tickets may beprinted in consecutive order, all of the coupons being similarlynumbered by the one printing operation of the press.

Inthe modified form of the type bars shown in Figs. 7, and 8, the typebars 14,, are provided with sockets M", in their upper sponding typefaces, said sockets being closely spaced and adapted to receive the type14. The type 14, may of course have type characters of any describeddescription formed upon their upper faces, and by making the typeremovable from the bar, the user may select type showing such charactersas he may desire. to print upon the couppn ticket or other article.

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possiblewithout departing from the spirit of this invention; I desire,therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form shown and described,but intend in the following claims to point out all of the inventiondisclosed herein.

I claim as new and desire Letters Patent:

1. In a printing machine of the character described, lengthwise movabletype bars having type characters thereon, said type'bars being arrangedin groups, a support for said type bars, and means for moving the typebars occupying corresponding locations in the several groups, wherebysaid corresponding type bars of the several groups may be simultaneouslymoved to bring the type characters thereon into printing position.

2. In a printing machine, lengthwise movable type bars having typecharacters thereon, and provided with tooth racks, said type bars beingarranged in groups, a support for said type bars, setting shaftscorresponding in number to the number of type bars in a group, andpinions fixedly secured to said shafts, the pinions on each shaftmeshing with the tooth racks of the type bars occupying correspondinglocations in the several groups, whereby said corresponding type bars ofthe several groups maybe moved lengthwise by turning the shaft, tothereby bring the corresponding type characters thereof into printingposition.

3. In a printing machine, lengthwise movable type bars having typecharacters thereon and arranged in groups, a support for said type bars,a cover plate above the type bars, said plate having a slot formedtherein at the printing position, and a platen having a stri and adaptedto register with said slot, said resilient strip being capable of beingmoved through said with the exposed type characters.

4. In a printing machine, lengthwise movable type-bars having typecharacters thereon, and arranged in groups, a support for said typebars, means for moving a correbar of each group to bring the typecharacters thereof into printing position, a top plate immediately abovesaid type bars and formed with a slot at the printing position of themachine, and a platen-cooperating with the exposed type characters belowthe slot to make impressions upon a sheet.

to secure by slot, into contact- 5. In a printing machine, lengthwisemovable type bars having type characters thereon, and arranged ingroups, setting means for moving correspondingly located type bars ofthe several groups in unison, a top plate supported adjacent the typebars and having a slot extending across the type bars at the printingposition of the machine, and a platen cooperating with the typecharacters of the type bars at the printing position to print upon thesheet laid upon the top plate.

6. In a printing machine, a supporting frame, lengthwise movable typebars having two sets of type characters formed on each type bar, saidtype bars being arranged in groups, supporting plates for said typebars, means for setting corresponding type bars of the several groups inprinting position, a top plate secured to said frame and having twoslots, one located at the printing position of one set of typecharacters and another located at the printing position of the other setof type characters, and a platen carried by said frame, and having tworesilient strips arranged to be projected down through said slots,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a printing machine, lengthwise movable type bars havingltypecharacters thereon, and provided wit tooth racks, said type bars beingarranged in groups, stationary spacing strips interposed between thetype bars, a support for the type bars, setting shafts, there being acorresponding number of setting shafts as there are type bars in eachgroup, pinions mounted on said shafts and meshing with said tooth racks,the pinions on each shaft corresponding with correspondingly locatedtype bars in the several groups, a top plate having a slot located atthe printing position of t e machine, and a laten having a strip adaptedto be projected down through the slot, substantially as and for thepurposes set Iorth.

8. In a coupon ticket printing machine, lengthwise movable type barshaving type characters thereon, and provided with tooth racks, said typebars being arranged in groups, stationarily supported spacing stripsbetween said ty e bars, transversely extending setting sha ts,corresponding in number to the number of type bars in a group, pinionssecured upon said setting shafts, and meshing with said tooth racks, thepinions upon each setting shaft meshing with the racks of the type barsoccupying corresponding positions in the several groups, and a platenarranged to engage the' type characters at the printing position of thepress.

9.-In a coupon ticket printing machine, lengthwise movable type barshaving type characters thereon, and provided with tooth racks, said typebars being arranged in groups,vsaid type bars having a thin web alongtheir lower portions, and the tooth racks being formed on the lower sideof the thicker upper portions of the type bars, a support for said typebars, setting shafts corresponding in number to the number of type barsin any group, pinions fast to said setting shafts and meshing with thetooth racks, the pinions on each shaft meshing with the tooth racks ofthe type bars occupying corresponding positions in the several groups,and a platen having a resilient member adapted to engage the type at theprint innj positlon of the press 10. In a coupon ticket printingmachine, lengthwise movable type bars having type characters thereon,and provided with tooth racks, said type bars being arranged in groups,setting shafts corresponding in numher to the number of type bars in agroup, pinions fast on said setting shaft and meshing with said toothracks, the pinions on each shaft meshing with the racks of the type barsoccupying corresponding location in the several groups, and hand wheelson the outer ends of said shafts.

11. In a coupon ticket printing machine, independently movable type barshaving type characters thereon, and provided with rack teeth, said typebars being arranged in groups, a support for said type bars, andindependently operable setting means for correspondingly located typebars of each group, having pinions meshing with the racks of saidcorrespondingly located type bars.

MORRIS J. HOFFMAN.

